Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Sexual reproductive health in women definitely sets them apart from their male counterparts! It is important for women to understand that sexual reproductive health conditions vary between women regarding physical, social, cultural, and psychological backgrounds...so not every woman will be the same!

Sexual reproductive health entails the reproductive process along with all of the systems and organs that go along with it. It also involves the knowledge of partaking safe sex, having the freedom to choose, and having a positive approach to sexuality and relationships.

Sexual reproductive rights are legal rights under The World Health Organization (WHO), and liberties connecting reproduction and reproductive health. These rights allow individuals to aspire to the highest level of reproductive health, have children, and be free from discrimination and violence.

General Awareness in Armenia:

Since Armenia is a traditionally inhibited country, most Armenian's are not comfortable talking about sex. The majority of knowledge concerning sex is gained through family or friends, not doctors. Children in school are given materials about sex but not given the opportunity to discuss the materials in class, and often times family member are too embarrassed to discuss the materials at home, thus the established Armenian reality provides no appropriate place for people to ask questions about sex.

The danger in restricting access to sex education in Armenia is that an individual who doesn't encompass the understanding of sex is ultimately lost regarding how to protect and express themselves. This problem has the ability to extend into the sexual reproductive rights, and health of an individual.

Regarding sexual reproduction rights and health, the Armenian government has taken steps to increase access to family planning services. In 2000, the "For Family and Health" Armenian Association (AFHA) established three family planning/sexual and reproductive health clinics in Yerevan city, and six in the regions of Armenia. Also, in 2002, the government passed the RA Law of Reproductive Health and Reproductive Rights of Human Beings, which recognizes each woman's right to safe motherhood and to effective contraception to prevent pregnancy.

Although these clinics have made quite some progress, the use of birth control and access to family planning services remains low and difficult to reach, especially in rural areas.